International Student and Scholar Services

International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS)

The world of international student and scholar services is constantly evolving due to new initiatives and changes in federal regulations. SUNY Global established the Council for International Student and Scholar Services (C-ISSS) to support ISSS professionals across the 64 SUNY campuses. We have a variety of initiatives underway to support the ISSS community.

For more information regarding ISSS or to join any of these initiatives, please contact the International Student & Scholar Services Manager at isss@suny.edu.

SUNY J-1 Exchange Visitor Program (EVP) Consortium

The Office of Global Affairs (OGA) has been approved by the Department of State for J-1 designation as a consortium in the categories of student (incuding student intern), research scholar, professor, short-term scholar, and specialist. The consortium is designed to assist member campuses with DS-2019 issuance, regulation guidance and support in an effort to increase educational and cultural exchange opportunities across the SUNY system.

ISSS SharePoint

The ISSS SharePoint website provides resources, valuable discussion forums and materials as well as SUNY and government links to assist ISSS professionals with current issues impacting the international student and scholar population.

C-ISSS Listserv

A forum dedicated to SUNY ISSS offices to communicate and consult on issues related to international populations and SUNY policies. The listserv has over 195 members representing all 64 campuses and system administration.

Outreach & Assessment

In an effort to develop resources and provide training resources, OGA conducts surveys of the ISSS community to assess current trends and needs. An annual C-ISSS meeting provides an opportunity to facilitate discussions and share resources related to important issues facing the ISSS community. Our ISSS Manager also offers individualized consultation to campuses on a variety of issues.

Training

In an effort to provide professional development opportunities, we occasionally offer a variety of training opportunities to ISSS professionals. Past training opportunities have included F-1 Advising for Beginners and J-1 Advising for Beginners workshops as well as NAFSA webinars.

Resources

Best practices are being identified to assist campuses seeking to enroll international students or to increase their existing international enrollments. The International Student Services Committee of the International Recruitment Council has developed two resources for campuses. These recommendations are meant to reaffirm the importance of providing a welcoming and supportive campus environment for international students and to support future enrollments, retention and student satisfaction.